8 Bible Verses about Bigotry

"I am a Jew," he said, "born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strict manner of the Law of our forefathers, ardent for God, even as you all are this day. "I persecuted to the death this way, continually binding and delivering up to prisons both men and women.

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats of murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and begged of him letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any that were of the Way, either men or women, he could bind them and bring them to Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, when he was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed round him. read more.
He fell to the ground, and heard a voice which said to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And he said, "Who are you Lord?"

"I indeed once thought with myself that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus, the Nazarene.

For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how furiously I used to persecute the church of God, and how I kept seeking to root it out; and how in my zeal for Judaism I outstripped many of my own age and nation, in my special zeal for the traditions of my forefathers.

as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which comes through law, blameless.

Then young children were brought to him, that he might lay his hands on them and pray. His disciples interfered, but Jesus said to them.

Now people were bringing little children to Jesus for him to touch them; but the disciples rebuked them.

And they kept bringing their babies for him to touch them; but when his disciples saw it they began to rebuke them.

And all the Jewish believers who had accompanied Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Gentiles also.

so, when Peter came up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party disputed with him, saying, "You went into the houses of the uncircumcised and ate with them!"

And they, when they heard it, glorified God, and said to him. "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews, of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law. "Now what they have been told about you, again and again, is that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles, to forsake Moses, and not to circumcise their children, nor to follow the old customs. "What then ought to be done? They will certainly hear that you are come. read more.
"So do this that we tell you. "We have four men here under a vow; associate yourself with them, purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses so that they may have their heads shaved; then every one will know that there is no truth in the rumors that they have heard about you; but that you yourself walk orderly obeying the law. "As for the Gentile believers, we wrote giving judgment that they should abstain from anything sacrificed to an idol, from blood, from what is strangled, and from fornication."

But some men came down from Judea and attempted to teach the brethren, saying, "Unless you are circumcised according to Moses' custom, you cannot be saved." Now when dispute and controversy sprang up between them and Paul and Barnabas, the brethren appointed Paul and Barnabas, and certain others, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. So the church saw them off on their journey, and they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria. Here they set forth the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. read more.
Upon their arrival in Jerusalem they were received by the church and the apostles and elders, and they told them all things that God had done with them. But certain men who had belonged to the sect of the Pharisees, but were now believers, stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise Gentile, and to order them to keep the Law of Moses." The apostles and elders met to consider the matter; and after there had been a long discussion, Peter rose and said: "Brothers, you know how a good while ago God made choice among you, that from my lips the Gentiles were to hear the message of the gospel and believe. "And God, who knows the hearts of all, gave this testimony in their behalf, by bestowing upon them the Holy Spirit just as he did upon us; "and he made no distinction between us and them, in cleansing their hearts by faith. "Now then, why are you tempting God by laying on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear?

"as we have heard that some of your number who went out from us have troubled you with words and upset your souls, without having received any such instruction from us;

But although Titus, my companion, was a Greek, they did not compel even him to be circumcised. Yet there were false brethren who had crept in to spy out the freedom we enjoy in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us again. To them we did not yield submission even for an hour, in order that the truth of the gospel might abide unshaken among you.

What special privilege, then, has the Jew? Or what is the use of circumcision? Much in every way. First of all, because to them were entrusted the oracles of God. Supposing some of them have proved faithless? read more.
By no means! Be sure that God is ever true, though all mankind prove false. As it is written, That thou mayest be found just in thine argument, And gain thy cause when thou contendest. But if our unrighteousness thus brings out God's righteousness, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous?? speak after the manner of men??hen he inflicts his anger on us? Be it far from us; for in that case how could God judge the world? But if by a falsehood of mine the truthfulness of God has been made to redound to his glory, why am I still tried as a sinner? And why not say (as I myself am slanderously reported to say), "Let us do evil that good may come out of it"? Such arguments are rightly condemned. What then? Are we Jews in a better position? Not at all, for I have already charged all, both Jews and Gentiles, with being under sin. As it is written. There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none that understands, none that seeks for God! All have swerved from the right path; Every one of them has become corrupt. There is none that practices good, no, not one. Their throat is an open grave; With their tongues they have used deceit. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and ruin are in their paths; And the path of peace they have not known. Reverence for God is not before their eyes. Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law; so that every mouth may be shut, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God. For no man will be justified in God's sight by works of the Law; for through the Law comes the consciousness of sin. But now, quite apart from any law, a righteousness coming from God has been fully brought to light, continually witnessed to by the Law and the Prophets. I mean a righteousness coming from God through faith in Jesus Christ, for all who believe. For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, since all have sinned and lack the glory which comes from God;

What then shall we say of Abraham, our ancestor in the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to be proud of, but not before God. For what does Scripture say? And Abraham believed God, and it was set down to his account as righteousness. read more.
Now if a man earn his pay by his work, it is not counted to him as a favor, but it is paid him as a debt; but a man who does not "work," but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, has his faith imputed to him for righteousness. Just as David also speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from actions. Blessed he says are they whose iniquities have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Is this blessing, then, for the circumcised alone? or for the uncircumcised also? Abraham's faith, I say, was imputed to him for righteousness. How then was it imputed to him? When he was circumcised? or uncircumcised? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision; and he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the faith-righteousness which he had while he was in uncircumcision; in order that he might be the father of all who believe, even though they are uncircumcised; so that righteousness might be imputed to them. He is the father of circumcision to those who are not merely circumcised, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he held while he was as yet uncircumcised. For the promise that he should be heir of the world did not come to Abraham or to his posterity through law, but through faith-righteousness. For if those who are righteous through law are heirs, faith is empty and the promise becomes void. For law works wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression. This is why righteousness is of faith, that it may be a free gift; so that the promise stands firm to all Abraham's posterity; not to his children of his faith. For in the sight of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead, and calls into being that which is not, Abraham is the father of us all both Jews and Gentiles,

Now these words were not written simply for his sake, but for us as well. For it will be "reckoned for righteousness." to us also, who believe on him that raised from the dead our Lord Jesus; who was betrayed to death for our transgressions, and raised again to life for our justification.

"Master," said John, "we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he did not follow us." "Do not try to stop him," Jesus answered, "for there is no one who performs a miracle in my name who can soon speak evil of me. He who is not against us is for us.

"Master," said John, "we saw a man who was casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Forbid him not, for he who is not against you is for you."

When he noticed this the Pharisee, who had invited him, said to himself, "If this man were really a prophet he would have perceived who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, and would know that she is a sinner."

And the Pharisees and Scribes began to complain, saying, "He is welcoming sinners and eating with them!"

As soon as Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Come down quickly, Zaccheus, for today I must stay at your house." He made haste to climb down, and receive him joyfully. When they all saw it, they began to complain, saying "He has gone in to lodge with a man who is a sinner."

"Men of Israel, help! This is the man who goes everywhere preaching to everybody against the people, and the Law, and this place. And he has actually brought Gentiles even into the temple, and has desecrated the holy place." (For they had formerly seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, with him in the city, and supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

Until they heard this last statement, the people were listening to Paul, but now they roared out. "Away with such a fellow from the earth! He is not fit to live!"

Then they stormed at him. "You are his disciple. We are Moses' disciples. "We know that God spoke to Moses. But this fellow! We do not know where he comes from."

They answered, "You were wholly born in sins, and do you teach us?" Then they cast him out.

"For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, 'He has a demon'; and the Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Lo, a glutton and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!' Nevertheless, Wisdom is justified by her deeds."

And the Pharisee noticed, to his amazement, that he did not wash his hands before eating, but the Lord said to him. "You Pharisee do cleanse the outside of your cup or plate, but your secret heart is full of extortion and wickedness.

They forbid me to speak to the Gentiles with a view to their salvation. They continue always to fill up the measure of their sins; but the wrath of God is come upon them to the full!

When now when the time drew near for him to be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before him. These went and entered into a Samaritan village to make ready for him. But they did not receive him because his face was set to go to Jerusalem. read more.
And when his disciples, James and John, saw this they said, "Lord, are you willing for us to bid fire come down from heaven and destroy them?" As Elijah did. But he turned and rebuked them and said, "You know not what kind of spirit you share, for the Son of man came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them." And they went to another village.

and sent messengers before him. These went and entered into a Samaritan village to make ready for him. But they did not receive him because his face was set to go to Jerusalem.

"How is it," answered the Samaritan woman, "that you who are a Jew ask a drink from me, a woman, and a Samaritan?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

Just then his disciples came up, and were astonished that he was talking with a woman; yet not one of them asked him, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?"

For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, only it is a zeal without knowledge. For because they were ignorant of God's righteousness, and sought to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit themselves to the righteousness of God.

For this reason the Jews continued to seek the more eagerly to put him to death, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was actually speaking of God as his own Father, thus making himself of God's equal.

When they had heard these words, those in the synagogue were filled with fury;